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History

Intent 

At Austwick Primary School, the history curriculum enables our children to gain knowledge and understanding of the past within our own locality, our country and the wider world. We believe that learning from the past helps to shape and influence our future. The children will learn about the complexity of peoples’ lives, the diversity of societies and the relationships between different groups of people in the past. Through a detailed study of key knowledge from different historical periods, pupils will also develop historical skills and concepts such as chronological understanding, continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity and difference. In conjunction with the National Curriculum, our own history curriculum:  

  • is driven by our School’s vision. Consequently, the history curriculum provides learning opportunities that increase pupil confidence, interest in the world and an understanding of the impact that they can have on the world around them. It enables them to shine in the world. 

  • is designed to maximise cultural capital for example, by providing opportunities for children to learn about the world beyond their local environment and experiences, both in lessons and via school workshops, visitors and visits. 

  • fosters in children an interest in the past and to develop an understanding that enables them to enjoy all that history has to offer   

  • enables children to know and understand significant events in British history (including the history of our own locality) and to appreciate how people’s lives have shaped the nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world  

  • enables children to know and understand significant periods of historical development in the wider world: the nature of ancient civilisations; the expansion and dissolution of empires; characteristic features of past non-European societies;   

  • promotes knowledge and understanding of the historical reasons for the rich cultural diversity of our locality.  

  •  helps children gain historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different contexts, understanding the connections between local, regional, national and international history; between cultural, economic, military, political, religious and social history; and between short and long-term timescales  

  • teaches subject-specific vocabulary which will pupils will use accurately in oral and written work.  

  • develops in children the skills of historical enquiry; evidence based historical claims, contrasting arguments, investigation, analysis, evaluation and presentation.  

We use the Historical Association in the planning of our History curriculum throughout school. We ensure it is well-sequenced, with a clear progression of knowledge and vocabulary and links to other curriculum subjects. Historical skills and concepts (such as change, cause and effect etc) are integrated within the curriculum and developed through the key knowledge which the children learn each year.  

In EYFS, pupils are taught the knowledge and skills using a thematic approach outlined in our EYFS Curriculum for Understanding the World (see EYFS Curriculum). The themes are linked to the Scheme of Work for Key Stage 1 to ensure progression as pupils move from EYFS to Key Stage 1.   

  In Key Stages 1 and 2, a rolling programme is in place to ensure that the key knowledge from our history topics is taught to all pupils during each Key Stage, taking account of the mixed-age structure of our classes.   

Implementation  

EYFS  

The EYFS Curriculum for Understanding the World is taught in variety of ways through adult-led and adult-supported tasks and child-initiated learning in well-resourced provision areas, both indoors and outdoors.  

Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2  

In Key Stage 1 and 2, one history topic is taught each term over a half term period of time. 

For the other half term of each term, geography topics are taught in the same way. This enables pupils to focus on aspects of particular topics for a greater period of time, allowing for greater depth of study, rather than teaching both history and geography topics simultaneously. The History Curriculum is enriched in a variety of ways including visits to local museums, including Craven Museum, workshops from visiting specialists, visits to historical sites such as Skipton Castle, themed days linked to the History topic, local history e.g. Maritime Museum, Lancaster.  

Assessment 

EYFS  

Regular observations and assessments of learning are recorded and contribute to a summative assessment at the end of EYFS using the Early Years Outcomes for Understanding the World: ‘People and Communities’.  

KS1 and KS2 

Regular, ongoing observational assessments are made throughout each topic. The end of unit assessments of knowledge are used to identify what pupils know and if there are any gaps in learning. Pupils will revisit the history topic at different times through the year and be re-assessed using low stake assessments and cross-curricula links. Our key aim is for our pupils to know and remember more as they progress through each key stage. Assessments of skills and concepts are recorded on a class tracker. The information contributes to an end of year summative assessment.     

Impact  

The children will have knowledge of some local historical events, places and people. The impact of the curriculum will be reviewed (during the year and at the end of the year), through observations, monitoring and assessments of pupils’ learning to ensure a range of themes are covered and to identify how much knowledge they have gained and remember over time.    

Policy created: February 2025 

Review Date: February 2026 

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